Rafizi bids farewell, says sorry for ‘stinging criticisms’
PANDAN MP Mohd Rafizi Ramli conveyed his heartfelt apologies for hurting the feelings of his fellow Parliamentarians during House debates, as he bid farewell to the Dewan yesterday.
Urging them to continue to make the people’s interest a priority, he reminded them of their duties to those who elected them.
“This will be my final speech in this Dewan because I will not contest in the upcoming general elections.
“I want to begin by thanking and extending my appreciation to Tan Sri Speaker and his deputies who always gave me the opportunity and consideration for me to debate.
“I also wish to apologise if my stinging criticisms towards the government in the past five years had hurt the feelings of members from the other side.”
He said he never did it out of hate and even enjoyed the exchange of criticisms with the other side.
Naming some of them who often criticised him such as Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Moktar Radin, Lenggong MP Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, Tenggara MP Datuk Halimah Sadique, and Tanjung Karang MP Tan Sri Noh Omar, he said there was nothing personal in their harsh exchanges.
“As an elected representative we are salaried by the people, who have to bear a heavy burden.
“The responsibility of the Opposition is to ensure the government fulfils its responsibilities and promises made to the people.
“That is why I cannot escape from (my duty) to raise some matters that are very close to the people’s heart, what more in my final speech today,” he said.
There was pin-drop silence in the Dewan Rakyat during his threeminute speech.
Rafizi, who is also PKR vicepresident, was found guilty last month for exposing confidential banking details relating to the National Feedlot Corporation scandal in 2012.
The court had sentenced him and former bank clerk Johari Mohamad, who had abetted him, to 30 months’ imprisonment each but allowed a stay of execution pending an appeal.
Under Article 48 (1) (e) of the Federal Constitution, an elected representative loses his seat if he is jailed for at least a year or fined a minimum of RM2,000.